Record Breaking Software Sales for 2003
1/26/2004 at 10:58 PM
Video game sales exceeded $7 billion last year.
The Entertainment Software Association (ESA), who represents computer and video game software publishers, announced today that combined sales of computer and video game software for the year of 2003 rose above $7 billion, and a record number of console games sold more than the coveted 500,000 and one million units.
Despite M-rated video games being constantly targeted by politicians and the media throughout 2003, sales of said titles has actually declined last year, while T-rated game sales rose.
"While total sales were slightly below the most bullish forecasts, the record number of blockbuster releases shows that the popularity of video games is strong and growing," said Douglas Lowenstein, president of the ESA. "Moreover, the fact that 44 of the 49 games that sold more than half a million units were rated E or T reflects the fact that this industry is producing a broad array of highly entertaining content appropriate for people of all ages. That’s a major reason why entertainment software continues to outpace the annual growth posted by the movie and music industries."
Here's a percentage breakdown of 2003 video game sales by ESRB rating:
-ESRB Game rating / % sold (out of total game sales)- Everyone (E) / 54.0% Teen (T) / 30.5% Mature (M) / 11.9%
These numbers, compiled annually by NPD Group, reflect 2002's percentages similarly.
"The future strength and promise of interactive entertainment comes across loud and clear when we note that ours was the only entertainment industry to continue to grow in 2003," added Lowenstein.
According to NPD Group's figures, total game software sales in 2003 grew while both movie and music revenues declined compared to 2002 sales.
